WILLITS DATEBOOK for January 2013

*"Back to the Bible" Study Group meets every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Shiloh Gateway of Worship, 68 San Francisco Avenue. Current topic is The Abrahamic Covenant Part III - The Government: The King and the Kingdom. Coffee served. Bring a small dish or snack if you can. Contact Pastor Dan Jones for more information at 972-9571 or email; highway101.dj@gmail.com.

January 9-January 18

*The Mendocino Diaper Depot, a project of the Children's Action Committee of Mendocino County, is seeking diaper donations through its "Winter Diaperland Drive." The drive will run until January 18. The Mendocino Diaper Depot supplies emergency diapers to families in need and as an incentive for families to attend local parenting classes. To donate diapers?of any size to the drive, contact?CAC VISTA, Carolyn, at 467-2010.

*Tapestry Family Services hosts an orientation for foster parents from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Tapestry Conference Room, 290 East Gobbi Street, Ukiah. The free hour-long workshop is designed to help potential foster parents learn more about foster parenting, foster children, and the system of supports for foster families available through Tapestry. For information on becoming a foster parent?or how to provide occasional paid respite care for foster children?call Kippy Burns, 463-3300, ext. 115, or kippyb@tapestryfs.org.

*The Mendocino County Bee Club will meet at the Ukiah Garden Club, 1203 West Clay Street in Ukiah, at 6:30 p.m. April Lance, Healdsburg master gardener and beekeeper, will speak about setting up new hives this spring. She also will be taking orders for packages and queens.

January 11

*Macbeth, directed by Billy Hetherington of the Willits Shakespeare Company and played by members of Hetherington's class at Willits Charter School, Friday, January 11, through Sunday, January 13, at Willits Community Theater, 37 West Van Lane.

*Hot blues with The Blue Reptiles, 9 p.m., Shanachie Pub, 50B South Main Street. No cover.

*Awanas, a Bible-based club for children ages 4 to sixth-grade, 6:20 p.m. at Agape Bible Church. 290 South Lenore Avenue. Non-denominational international kids club with games, Bible stories, awards and fun continues through the school year. Cost: $30 per child. Information: 459-1905.

*Phoenix Certified Hospice will offer free patient care volunteer classes. Classes will be held in Willits on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, starting January 17 and running through March 7. To register, or for more information, call Linda Beebe at 456-3244.

*The Now & Then Film Series will present Pyramids of Waste at 7 p.m. at Little Lake Grange, 291 School Street. Pyramids of Waste (2010), also known as "The Lightbulb Conspiracy," explores planned obsolescence?the deliberate shortening of product life spans by manufacturers to guarantee consumer demand?and offers a wake-up call for each of us on what we buy and why we buy. A $5 donation (children free) is being asked and is used to keep the series going and renovate the Grange hall. Organic popcorn, fair trade chocolate and snacks are offered for sale and benefit Grange restoration.

January 19

*Fruit tree and grape pruning WORKSHOP with Richard Jeske, Saturday January 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at the new orchard site for HMH on Haehl Creek Drive. No charge; workshop takes place rain or shine. Call 459-9009 for more information.

*WCT open auditions for the 2013 season will be held at the Playhouse, 37 West Van Lane (behind the Van Hotel) on Saturday, January 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday, January 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, January 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.?Roles are available for Dead Man's Cell Phone, directed by Bill Barksdale; Two Across, directed by Dick Graham; and I Am a Camera, directed by Joe Dowling.? Information and scripts: telephone the WCT office at 459-0895.

January 20

*Fruit tree pruning slide show and orchard pruning workshop with Dave Watts on Sunday, January 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet in Mendocino College classroom 2 at the county museum. No charge; workshop will be held rain or shine. Call 459-9009 for more information.

*Literacy Volunteers of Willits is seeking volunteer tutors to teach someone else to read, write and speak English. Volunteers will be trained and furnished with all the tools they need. Tutor Training Orientation: 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, in the Willits library conference room. Basic Tutor Training Workshop, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, January 26, at the library. For reservations, call Pam at 459-1586, leave a message on the office answering machine, 459-5098, or email lvw@willitsonline.com.

January 24

*Tapestry Family Services hosts an orientation for foster parents from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Tapestry Conference Room, 290 East Gobbi Street in Ukiah. The free hour-long workshop is designed to help potential foster parents learn more about foster parenting, foster children, and the system of supports for foster families available through Tapestry. For information on becoming a foster parent?or how to provide occasional paid respite care for foster children?call Kippy Burns, 463-3300, ext. 115, or kippyb@tapestryfs.org.

*Everyone is invited to come to an evening of fun, games, food and fellowship on the fourth Friday of the month at 6 p.m. at Willits United Methodist Church, corner of School and Pine streets, across from Little Lake Grange. Free home-cooked food and raffle for door prizes. A donation is requested; all money collected goes to the designated nonprofit for that month. Information: 459-0861.

January 26

*Willits Rotary Club's Annual Crab Fest, 6:30 p.m. at the Willits Community Center, 111 East Comercial Street. The all-you-can-eat dinner includes crab, salad, pasta and garlic bread.?Dessert will be available for sale. Beer and win,e along with a "signature" drink, will be available for sale.?Live music, live and silent auctions. A fundraiser for the "Young and Old" with half of the proceeds from this event donated to the Harrah Center and the other half to Rotary's High School Scholarship Program. Dinner is $50 and includes one drink ticket. For tickets or more information: Ann Alumbaugh, 459.1440.